BRODHEAD - Most of Brodhead-Juda's five sectional qualifiers started wrestling early on in kindergarten and that experience has fueled competition in the wrestling room now that they are in high school.
"When you get a lot of talented wrestlers around the same weight class, you push each other to get better," said Brodhead-Juda senior Tyler Davis who is a sectional qualifier at 195 pounds.
Davis along with juniors Brady Colden (160), Gavin Baade (182), Stephen Voights (220) and Logan Maurer (heavyweight) have carried the Cardinals this season. With five of the top six weight classes at the sectional, the Cardinals are banking on having several qualify for state. They are geared up for the WIAA Division 2 Adams-Friendship sectional Saturday, Feb. 22. The top three in each weight class advance to the state tournament.
Maurer (42-1), ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, is looking to advance to state for the second straight year. The only loss for Maurer came to Division 3 No. 1 ranked Reed Anklam of Random Lake.
"I felt more pressure going into Deerfield because I was trying to stay undefeated," Maurer said. "I feel a lot more confident now that I have a loss and I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I just have to stay focused and not look past anyone."
Maurer hasn't wrestled a three-period match all year. Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden doesn't have any reservations about Maurer.
"He (Maurer) has worked hard all year," Colden said. "He hasn't been pushed much this year. We have an assistant coach who was a heavyweight who has been pushing him in practice as much as he can."
Brady Colden (40-3), ranked No. 6 at 160, looks forward to the sectional Saturday. He made a promise to Maurer after last season that he would wrestle with him at state this year.
"I feel like I have to keep that promise alive," Brady Colden said. "I just have to come out ready and not take anyone for granted. Anyone can show up here and beat anyone at this level."
Colden started wrestling when he was 5 for the Brodhead youth club.
"It's good to start out young," he said. "You can't just start wrestling in middle school or high school and expect to be at the same level. There are a lot of times as a freshman, kids are a lot stronger than you. You have to develop your technique through wrestling."
Tim Colden is excited about the chance to coach his son Brady at sectionals again this year. He's optimistic it could be a breakout performance for his son.
"He's confident," Tim Colden said. "He's hungry. He's ready to take the next step."
Tim Colden won't count out any of his wrestlers from making a trip to state.
"They have that extra year of maturity and strength," he said. "They are a pretty tight-knit group. They carried us in dual meets all year."
Baade (37-1), ranked No. 4 at 182, was a sectional qualifier last year and is looking to take the next step this year.
"I feel a lot better this year going into the sectional than I did last year," Baade said. "I feel I'm in a lot better shape and have more strength. I'm getting better at scrambling."
Baade is also one of the favorites to finish in the top three and punch his ticket to state. The only match he lost this year was to Fort Atkinson senior Brady Hansen. The top contenders in addition to Baade are Sugar River's Jacob Larson and West Salem's Nick Buisman. Baade has pinned Larson three times this season.
"I just want to win and get to the finals," he said. "It's been one of my goals to place in the top six at state."
Baade has seen the work through youth wrestling pay off.
"You learn so much more about how to get out of situations in seven years than you do in three years," Baade said of starting youth wrestling early instead of waiting until middle school.
Some may not have expected Davis (34-10) at 195 to make a sectional run. He had to beat Monroe senior Austin Minder in the regional in overtime.
"I can't take anything for granted getting here," Davis said. "It could be my last match. You have to go out and do your best because it could be all done. It's just exciting to have another week wrestling with the guys."
Voights (37-6) like many of his teammates started wrestling at 5. He will have a match against Lodi's Chandler Gilles in the first-round Saturday.
"I think that (youth wrestling club) was a big factor," Voights said of his success. "It's just learning all of the basics and having that drilled into your head so you can get it down perfect."
He understands what is at stake Saturday.
"My goal is to get to state," he said.
"When you get a lot of talented wrestlers around the same weight class, you push each other to get better," said Brodhead-Juda senior Tyler Davis who is a sectional qualifier at 195 pounds.
Davis along with juniors Brady Colden (160), Gavin Baade (182), Stephen Voights (220) and Logan Maurer (heavyweight) have carried the Cardinals this season. With five of the top six weight classes at the sectional, the Cardinals are banking on having several qualify for state. They are geared up for the WIAA Division 2 Adams-Friendship sectional Saturday, Feb. 22. The top three in each weight class advance to the state tournament.
Maurer (42-1), ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, is looking to advance to state for the second straight year. The only loss for Maurer came to Division 3 No. 1 ranked Reed Anklam of Random Lake.
"I felt more pressure going into Deerfield because I was trying to stay undefeated," Maurer said. "I feel a lot more confident now that I have a loss and I don't have to prove anything to anyone. I just have to stay focused and not look past anyone."
Maurer hasn't wrestled a three-period match all year. Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden doesn't have any reservations about Maurer.
"He (Maurer) has worked hard all year," Colden said. "He hasn't been pushed much this year. We have an assistant coach who was a heavyweight who has been pushing him in practice as much as he can."
Brady Colden (40-3), ranked No. 6 at 160, looks forward to the sectional Saturday. He made a promise to Maurer after last season that he would wrestle with him at state this year.
"I feel like I have to keep that promise alive," Brady Colden said. "I just have to come out ready and not take anyone for granted. Anyone can show up here and beat anyone at this level."
Colden started wrestling when he was 5 for the Brodhead youth club.
"It's good to start out young," he said. "You can't just start wrestling in middle school or high school and expect to be at the same level. There are a lot of times as a freshman, kids are a lot stronger than you. You have to develop your technique through wrestling."
Tim Colden is excited about the chance to coach his son Brady at sectionals again this year. He's optimistic it could be a breakout performance for his son.
"He's confident," Tim Colden said. "He's hungry. He's ready to take the next step."
Tim Colden won't count out any of his wrestlers from making a trip to state.
"They have that extra year of maturity and strength," he said. "They are a pretty tight-knit group. They carried us in dual meets all year."
Baade (37-1), ranked No. 4 at 182, was a sectional qualifier last year and is looking to take the next step this year.
"I feel a lot better this year going into the sectional than I did last year," Baade said. "I feel I'm in a lot better shape and have more strength. I'm getting better at scrambling."
Baade is also one of the favorites to finish in the top three and punch his ticket to state. The only match he lost this year was to Fort Atkinson senior Brady Hansen. The top contenders in addition to Baade are Sugar River's Jacob Larson and West Salem's Nick Buisman. Baade has pinned Larson three times this season.
"I just want to win and get to the finals," he said. "It's been one of my goals to place in the top six at state."
Baade has seen the work through youth wrestling pay off.
"You learn so much more about how to get out of situations in seven years than you do in three years," Baade said of starting youth wrestling early instead of waiting until middle school.
Some may not have expected Davis (34-10) at 195 to make a sectional run. He had to beat Monroe senior Austin Minder in the regional in overtime.
"I can't take anything for granted getting here," Davis said. "It could be my last match. You have to go out and do your best because it could be all done. It's just exciting to have another week wrestling with the guys."
Voights (37-6) like many of his teammates started wrestling at 5. He will have a match against Lodi's Chandler Gilles in the first-round Saturday.
"I think that (youth wrestling club) was a big factor," Voights said of his success. "It's just learning all of the basics and having that drilled into your head so you can get it down perfect."
He understands what is at stake Saturday.
"My goal is to get to state," he said.
